Reflector element



- R. L TIGER xgEFLEc'roR ELEMENT Filed Augil, 1938 Dec. 5, 1939,

INVENTOR .ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1939 PATENT -oFF cE REFLECTOR ELEMENT Roy L. Tiger, Boulder, Colo.

Application August 1,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to signs of the type in which light rays from an outside source pass through a lens onto a reflecting surface from which they are reflected back through the lens, and relates more particularly to the sign unit and its construction.

Signs of the general type to which this invention relates are most frequently formed from small reflectinglens units arranged so as to form letters, numbers or ornamental designs, each letter, number or design employing a large number of units. Such signs, when viewed from a distance, have the appearance of being continu- Ous but when viewed from a near position they show a disconnected line and are therefore not suitable for use in windows or along streets and sidewalks.

It is the object of this invention to produce a sign unit of the reflector type that shall be continuous for an entire letter, figure or design in such a way that the completed sign will have the appearance of a Neon sign. Such signs are eminently suitable for use in store windows, and inside of buildings, but are equally well suited for use as road signs and for illuminated license plates, etc.

The object of this invention is to produce an elongated sign element in the form of a rod, of varying cross section, having a reflector embedded in the material and hermetically sealed therein. The element has'a lens-like formation opposite the reflector so that when subjected torays of light from an outside source, it will reflect the light as a continuous line and not as separate umts.

Such elements may be heated and bent into the form of letters, numbers or designs,- and when illuminated from an outside source of light will appear as continuous linesof light.

Another object is to produce an elongated reflector unit in which the reflector element is embedded in the material itself and hermetically sealed therein so as to remove all danger of the reflector element coming in contact with air and/or moisture-which will cause it to tarnish.

Another object is to produce a sign unit in which each separate letter, figure and/or design is continuous, either formed by bending an elongated reflector element into the desired shape or by moulding it from glass, into the shape desired and embedding a reflector element therein, all

as will be herein more fully explained.

In the following description and the claims, the word fsign is used in its generic sense and covers all shapes and forms and signs for any purpose. Wherever a light for illuminating the sign is mentioned, it is to be construed in its generic sense and includes any source of visible light rays however produced.

Having thus described the objects of the inven- 1938, Serial No. 222,355

tion, the preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing inwhich the invention has been illustrated and in which Figure l is a view showing a sign formed from a continuous sign element bent into the desired shape;

Figure 2 is a view showing an automobile license plate provided with reflecting numbers constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 3 is a cross section showing one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4.- is a cross section showing another modification thereof;

Figure 5 is a cross section showing a modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a cross section showing another modification;

Figure 7 is a cross section showing a different specific embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a cross section taken on line 9-9 Fig. 10;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section taken on line i0|0 Fig. 8;

, Figure 11 is a top plan view corresponding to that shown in Hg. 9, but showing a specifically different design;

Figure 121s a cross section showing a modification of the form illustrated in Fig. 3;

Figure 13 is a section taken on line i3i3 Fig.

Figure 14 is a side view of another specifically difierent form of the invention;

Figure 15 is a transverse section taken on line l5i5 Fig. 14.

In the drawing, reference numeral l0 desig nates an elongated continuous reflecting element whose construction will be hereinafter fully described. In Fig. 1, the reflecting element has been shown as bent into a form representing five letters forming a name, and this is merely intended to show how such an element can be em ployed in the construction of signs comprising letters, figures or other designs.

In Fig. 2, an elevation has been shown of a license plate in which the figures representing the license number are formed by reflector elements of the kind forming the subject of this invention. The license plate has been designated by reference numeral H and the letters are first formed in the plate by pressing the material downwardly, as indicated by reference numeral i2 in Fig. 13. The reflector elements iii are positioned in thesedepressed areas and held in place by fingers i 3 that are cut from the material of the plate.

The sign element has been illustrated in vari- 2 ammo ous specific forms, all of which are generically the same, and reference will now be had to 3 in which the element is shown as comprising a cylindrical rod in that is formed with a ion- 5 gitudinally extending recess H. The rear of the recess is left open during the manufacture and serves-as a compartment for a reflector element .15. In Fig. 3, this reflector element has been illustrated as being longitudinally corrugated;

The reflector element may be made from any suitable material having the surface that faces the center of the cylinder polished so as to serve as. a reflector. The corrugations provide light dispersing properties so that regardless of the direction in which the light rays strike the cylinder, some of them will be reflected backward-. ly along substantially the same path. After the reflector element has been put in position, a cover I8 is applied and the two parts are then 24) passed between suitable gas flames that fuse the edges along the lines indicated by reference numeral l'l. After the coverhas been fused to the main body of the sign element, the compartment containing the reflector is hermetically 25 sealed so that neither air nor moisture can enter the same. This assures that the polished reflectingsurface'will not tarnish or be adversely affected by moisture or deleterious gases.

It will be noted that the depth of recess ll 80 is such that the reflector I5 is held firmly and that space is provided to permit the reflectorelement IE to alter its shape sufficiently to adjust itself to its greater expansion than the glass when the element is heated. This is an im- 'at porta'nt structural feature because, if a-fla-t metal reflector element is embedded in a glass letter the unequal expansion of the two parts will ultimately cause the glass'to crack. In the drawing the corrugations have been shown as run- 40 ning in the direction of the length of the letters, but they may run transversely or diagonally.

The embodiments illustrated in Figs. 5.6 and '7 are substantially identical with that shown in 5 Fig. 3, with the exception that the transverse section of the element is somewhat different.

In Fig. 5 the convex surface, which has been designated by reference numeral I8, is formed on a large radius and the cross section, instead of 9 being circular,.has its sides perpendicular to the base and joined by an arcuate surface. The .reflector element is formed in the same manner as that shown in Fig. 3. The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 differs merely in a slight degree from that shown in Fig. 5, the difference consisting in this, that the straight sides have been eliminated and the cylindrical surface prolonged until it intersects the base.

In Fig. '7, the curvature of the surfaces are t somewhat diflerent from those shown in the other figures, and is merely intended to illustrate how the shape can be variedwithout departing from the invention. In all of the em- 4 bodiments mentioned, there is arecess extending longitudinally of the member-and this recess is closedby cover It fused to the body of the element along line 11. In the figures so far men'- tioned, the reflector I! has been designated as formed from a longitudinally'corrugated strip of metal, but this is merely illustrative and it is the intention to employ any suitable reflecting. material in lieu of the speciflcreflectors shown.

It is also contemplated -to substitute for a separate metallic reflector a reflectorformed by spraying molten metal onto the bottom ofthehighly reflective.

recess so as to metalize this surface and form a reflector of some very refractory metal that will resist. high temperatures.

In Fig. 4, a construction has been shown that differs quite materially from that illustrated in I. Fig. 3, but which still retains the common features of having the reflector element positioned between the center and the outer surface of the sign element. In Fig. 4, the outside comprisesaglass tube [9 within which is positioned a glass 10 rod 20. The rod is of somewhat smaller diameter than the opening in the two, and a reflector i5 is positioned between the two adjacent surfaces. Instead ofa sheet'metal reflector of the type indicated, the'surface ofthe rod may be 15 silvered'or sprayed with a molten lead spray, and since this does not require as much space as the reflector illustrated, the diameter of the rod 20 can more nearly approach that of the inside of the tube.

In Fig. 12, the reflector element has been designated by lid and is transversely concave and may be formed from a smooth piece of'metal having its inner surface polished so as to be Tongues 2| are cut from the 86 reflector at spaced intervals and serve to engage the inner surface of the cover Illa, which is fused along lines I! in the manner already described in connection with Fig. 3. A reflector like that shown in Fig. 12, does not have to be longitudil0 -t6 the ton ues 2| which hold the reflector element "against the inner surface and makes it possible to use a reflector element that is much 40 thinner than the depth of .the recess so that danger of breakage, due to unequal expansion,

, is avoided as explained in connection with Fig.3.

When the embodiments illustrated in. Figs. 3 to 7 and in Fig. 12 are employed, the face of the 45 sign element will present a somewhat cylindrical surface. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, another form of a sign element has been illustrated in which the face of the element is provided with a plurality of semi-spherical projections 22, which form 50 lenses that serve to concentrate the light on the reflector element l5 and to magnify the reflecting surface. In Fig. 11, a slightly different form has been shown in which the semi-spher-' ical projections have been replaced by pyrami- B8 dal projections. It is apparent that any form of jeweled surfaces can be used so as to make variations in the appearance of the completed sign.

- In Figs. 14 and 15, a further embodiment has 00 been shown. In this embodiment the sign element has beenv illustrated as comprising two transparent glass rods 23, of substantially the same shape as that shown in Fig. 5. These rods are placed back to back and a reflector element dd there is good illumination, the letters or figures win he clearly visible on the surface of the sign and will stand out very clearly dueto the fact that light is reflected between the opaque portions of the letters. At night time, the portions between the letters will glow from the reflected light, and the letters or numbers will show as dark lines or areas. Signs constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 14 and 15 are especially well adapted for use within buildings and in display windows.

Attention is again directed to the fact that in the sign element that forms the subject of-this invention, the reflector element is enclosed in the material of the sign element and hermetically sealed therein so as to preserve it and protect it from deterioration-due to moisture and gases. Attention is also called to the fact that these sign elements are elongated and can be bent into any shape in the same manner as now common in connection with tubular vapor lamps of the type known as Neon lamps. It is contemplated that letters or figures can be molded from glass or other suitable transparent material and the reflector positioned in the recesses in the rear of such letters and then enclosed by means of the covers it which are fused to the material of the letter or figure.

In the above description and in the claims the material employed has been designated as lass. This material has been selected as an example because it is so well known and is also well adapted for the purpose described. It is to be understood that any other suitable material having glass-like properties may be substituted. There are several synthetic products now made and sold that can be used for the purpose indicated and it is the intentionto employ the material that is the most suitable, whether it is glass or any other material.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is: v

1. A sign character comprising an elongated body of transparent material having a convex lens at its front and an opening extending longitudinally thereof, the opening being of transversely elongated cross section, and a reflector element positioned in the opening, the reflector element being readily bendable and of less thickness than the width of the transverse section, and having portions thereof engaging the front wall surface of the opening and other portions engaging the rear wall surface thereof whereby the reflector element is held in a predetermined position and free to expand and contract relative to the body member without breaking the latter.

2. A sign. character comprising an elongated bodyof transparent material having a convex lens at its front and an opening extending longitudinally thereof near its rear, the opening having a transversely elongated cross section, the front and the rear wall surfaces of the opening being substantially parallel, a reflector formed from a strip of thin, readily bendable material having its forwardly facing surface formed with reflector properties, the reflector being-corrugated, the depth of the corrugations being such that their crests contact with the front and rear wall surfaces ofthe opening, whereby the material of the reflector may expand at a greater rate than that of the character without setting up breaking strains.

character comprising an elongated material having a convex aromas lens at its front and an opening extending longitudinally thereof near its rear, the opening having a transversely elongated cross section, the front and the rear wall surfaces of the opening being substantially parallel, a'reflector formed from a strip of thin, material having one surface formed with reflector properties the reflector being longitudinally corrugated, the depth of the corrugations bein such that their crests contact with the front and rear wall surfaces of the opening, the reflecting surface facing forwardly.

4. A sign element comprising an elongated body of transparent material having its front and its back portions outwardly rounded in a transverse direction so as to form elongated lenses having magnifying properties, the bodyhaving an opening extending longitudinally thereof, the opening having a narrow elongated cross section, the sides of the opening being substantially parallel, and a long, narrow reflector element positioned in the'opening, the reflector element having both sides formed with reflecting properties and being corrugated, the depths of the corrugations being such that their crests engage the sides of the opening.

5. A sign element comprising an elongated body of transparent material having its front and its back portions outwardly rounded in a transverse direction so as to form elongated lenses having magnifying properties, the body having an opening extending longitudinally thereof, the opening having a. narrow elongated cross section, the sides of the opening being substantially parallel, and a long, narrow reflector element positioned in the opening, the reflector element having both sides formed with reflecting properties and longitudinally corrugated, the depths of the corrugationsbeing such that their crests engage the sides of the opening.

6. A sign element comprising an elongated body of transparent material having one side of its cross section transversely convex to form an elongated lens having magnifying properties, the body having an opening extending its entire length, the opening having a narrow transversely elongated cross section whose front and rear surfaces are substantially parallel and a reflector element of thin sheet material positioned in the opening, the surface facing the lens having reflecting properties and being corrugated, the corrugations being of such depth that both sides of the reflector are simultaneously in contact with the sides of the opening, the material of the reflector having a greater coeflicient of linear expansion than the lens and being readily bendable, whereby breakage of the lens will be prevented.

7. A sign character comprising a body of transparent material having a convex lens at its front and an opening near its rear, the opening being entirely within the material of the body and thin in comparison to its width, and a reflector element positioned in the opening, the reflector element being readily bendable and of less thickness than the distance between the front and rear walls of the opening and having'portions thereof engaging the front wall of the opening, and other portions engaging the rear wall thereof whereby the reflector element'is held in predetermined position and free to expand and contract relative to the body member without breaking the latter.

ROY L T1613. 

